Importing data into Tribe has traditionally required a detailed, technical process. The Simple Import is a simpler, more guided alternative designed to walk you through each step of a data import without needing advanced configuration knowledge. Whether you are bringing in contact persons, organisations, or other records, the Simple Import breaks the process down into clear, manageable stages. By following this guide, you will be able to upload a file, map your fields correctly, and complete a successful import with confidence.
Table of Contents
What Does the Simple Import Do?
When Should You Use the Simple Import?
Prerequisites
Step-by-Step Instructions
Tips and Best Practices
Troubleshooting
Where is This Feature Displayed?
Quick Summary
What Does the Simple Import Do?
The Simple Import is a simplified method for importing data into Tribe. It guides you through the process step by step, from uploading your file to mapping your columns to the correct fields in Tribe. Unlike the advanced import method, the Simple Import is structured around a logical sequence of screens, each asking for one thing at a time. This makes it easier to follow and reduces the chance of errors during the import process.
When Should You Use the Simple Import?
Use the Simple Import when you want a straightforward, guided experience for importing data. It is particularly useful if you are less familiar with Tribe's import process, or if you are importing a standard data type such as contact persons or organisations. For more complex imports that require advanced configuration, the existing advanced import method remains available.
Note: The Simple Import is designed for standard imports. If your import requires highly specific or non-standard settings, consider using the advanced import method instead.
Prerequisites
In order to use the Simple Import you need to be an Admin-user or have permissions enabled to import data.
Preparing Your File for Import
Before starting the Simple Import, it is important that your file is set up correctly so that Tribe can match the records in your file to existing records in the system. Without a shared reference point, Tribe cannot link file items to existing entities.
Your file must include at least one common reference column. Examples of accepted reference columns include Organisation ID, Account Number, Customer ID, or Relation Code.
There are two ways to handle this:
1. Add a Simple ID Column (Recommended)
Add a column with a unique identifier to each of your files before importing. This ensures records are linked accurately. For example:
organisations.csv | contacts.csv |
Org ID = Name | Org ID = Contact |
ORG-01 = Acme Corp | ORG-01 = John Smith |
By sharing the same Org ID across both files, Tribe can correctly link each contact to the right organisation.
2. Use Organisation Name
If your file does not contain an ID column, Tribe can attempt to match records using the organisation name. However, this only works if names are spelled exactly the same across all files and is not recommended when an organisation has multiple relation types.
Note: Adding a simple ID column is the recommended approach. Relying on organisation name matching can lead to linking errors if there are any inconsistencies in spelling or formatting across your files.
Learn more on how to prepare your excel import file here.
How do I Prepare an Excel Import File? | Tribe Knowledge Base
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1 – Upload Your File
Navigate to configurations → imports.
Click Import at the top of the page.
When prompted, upload the file containing the data you wish to import. Tribe will read and analyse the file before proceeding.
Step 2 – Select Your Import Data Type
Once your file has been read, select the Import data type of the data you are importing (for example, Persons).
Select the relevant Sub type to further specify the record type.
Step 3 – Map Your Fields
After selecting your entity type, Tribe will analyse the file and display the Field Mapping screen. This screen is divided into two sections:
ID and required fields — These are the mandatory fields that must be mapped before the import can proceed.
For each required field, select which column in your file corresponds to that field.
Other Columns — For the remaining columns in your file, map each one to the appropriate field in Tribe.
Did you know? You can use the search function within the field selection list to find the right field more quickly.
Once all fields are mapped, review your selections and click Continue.
Step 4 – Preview Your Mappings
A preview of the mappings you have defined will be displayed. Review this to confirm everything is correct before proceeding.
Step 5 – Name and Configure Your Import
Enter a Name for the import.
Optionally, add a Description to help identify this import later.
Define how Tribe should handle Duplicates — for example, whether to skip, create multiple records, or overwrite existing records (merge into one record).
Step 6 – Test and Start the Import
Select Test Import to run a check before committing to the full import. This helps identify any issues with your file or mappings.
Once satisfied, select Start Import to begin the import process.
Where Is the Simple Import Displayed?
There are two ways to access the Simple Import in Tribe.
From a List View
Navigate to the list view of the relevant entity, for example Customers.
In the top right corner, click the Import icon.
Select Simple Import from the options shown.
The Simple Import will open and you can follow the steps outlined in the Step-by-Step Instructions section above.
Did you know? Accessing the Simple Import directly from a list view will automatically preselect the relevant entity type, saving you a step during the setup process.
From Configurations
Navigate to Configurations.
In the configurations menu, select Imports.
Click the Import button at the top of the page.
Select Simple Import and follow the steps from the Step-by-Step Instructions section above.
Tips and Best Practices
Prepare Your File Before You Start
Check that your file has clearly labelled column headers in the first row and contains no merged cells or blank rows at the top. Taking a few minutes to review your file before uploading will save time during the mapping stage and reduce the chance of errors.
Always Include an ID Column
Where possible, add a unique ID column to your import file before starting. This ensures Tribe can accurately link records to existing entities in the system. Relying on name matching alone is not recommended, as any inconsistency in spelling will cause linking to fail.
The Simple Import Supports One Entity Type Per Import
The Simple Import processes one entity type at a time, such as Leads or Customers. If you need to import multiple entity types, create a separate import file for each type and run the import once for each.
Did you know? If you need to import multiple entity types in a single import, the advanced import method supports this. Refer to the advanced import article for further guidance.
Prepare Address Fields as Separate Columns
The Import Wizard maps columns directly to fields in Tribe and cannot split a combined address into its individual components during import. If you want to import a street name into the street name field, a postal code into the postal code field, and so on, each of those values must already be in its own separate column in your import file before you begin.
Use the Test Import Before Committing
Always run a test import before starting the full import. This allows you to catch field mapping issues or missing values without affecting your live data.
Check the Errors Tab if an Import Gets Stuck
If your import does not complete as expected, navigate to the Errors tab for details on what went wrong. This will help you identify which rows or fields need attention before re-importing.
Note: An option to export rows containing errors directly from the errors tab is coming soon. This will allow you to correct those rows and re-import them without manually searching through the original file.
Revert an import
If necessary, an import can be completely reverted. To do so, open the import you want to revert and select Revert Import in the bottom-right corner.
Use Descriptive Names for Your Imports
When prompted to name your import, choose a name that clearly identifies the file, entity type, and date. For example, Customers_Amsterdam_April2026. This makes it easier to locate and reference past imports.
Troubleshooting
My file will not upload
Check that your file is in the correct format and is not corrupted. Ensure the file is not open in another programme, such as Excel, while attempting to upload it. If the issue persists, try saving the file again and re-uploading.
The field mapping screen is not showing the columns I expect
This usually means the file was not read correctly. Check that your file has clearly labelled column headers in the first row and that there are no merged cells or blank rows at the top. Re-upload the file once corrections have been made.
A required field is not available in the selection list while mapping
The field selection list is built from the entity type you selected. If a required field does not appear building the mapping, confirm that you have selected the correct Import data type and Sub type.
Address Data Is Appearing in the Wrong Field or Not Importing Correctly
The Import Wizard cannot split a combined address during import. If your file contains a single column with a full address (for example, "Baker Street 12, 1234 AB Amsterdam"), Tribe has no way to separate this into individual fields automatically. Each address component — street name, house number, postal code, city, and country — must be in its own dedicated column in your file before uploading. Correct the file structure and re-import to resolve this.
The test import returns errors
Review the error details to identify which rows or fields are causing the issue. Common causes include missing values in required fields, unrecognised Import IDs, or columns that have not been mapped. Correct the relevant data in your file or adjust your field mappings, then run the test again before starting the full import.
Duplicate records are appearing after import
If duplicates were created, check the duplicate handling setting you selected before starting the import. For future imports, use the Test Import option to verify how Tribe will handle matching records before committing to the full import.
I Need to Undo an Import
If an import has produced incorrect results, it can be fully reverted. Open the import you wish to undo and select Revert Import in the bottom-right corner. This will remove all data that was brought in during that import.
Note: Reverting an import removes all associated data from Tribe. Make sure you want to undo the import entirely before selecting this option, as the action cannot be undone.
Quick Summary
The Simple Import provides a step-by-step guided process for importing data into Tribe, making it more accessible than the advanced import method. It walks you through uploading a file, selecting an entity type, mapping required and additional fields, and configuring duplicate handling before starting the import. Using the Simple Import helps ensure your data is imported accurately and consistently, with less risk of configuration errors.